Flamingo Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
My grandmother had a pair of plastic pink flamingos stuck in her front lawn for as long as I can remember, faded from decades of…
Birds
-
-
Kingfisher Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
I used to sit on a dock most summer evenings hoping to catch a Belted Kingfisher working the shallows, and most of the time all…
-
Pelican Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
There’s a fishing pier near where I used to stay on the Gulf Coast where the same Brown Pelican showed up every evening around the…
-
Backyard Birds in Michigan: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
My uncle has a place on the Leelanau Peninsula, and every fall he texts the family a photo of Sandhill Cranes staging in the field…
-
Backyard Birds in Arizona: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
The first morning I stayed at a friend’s place in Tucson, I got woken up before sunrise by what sounded like a small dog barking…
-
Backyard Birds in North Carolina: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
I spent a week one summer at a rental house on the Outer Banks that had a pair of Brown Pelicans working the surf every…
-
Backyard Birds in Pennsylvania: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
A few Octobers ago I drove out to Hawk Mountain in the Kittatinny Ridge with a friend who swore it would be worth the trip,…
-
Backyard Birds in Wisconsin: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
The cabin my family rents up near Minocqua doesn’t have great WiFi, air conditioning, or much of anything else, but it has a loon pair…
-
Backyard Birds in Colorado: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
The first time I saw a Steller’s Jay up close, I was eating a sandwich on a picnic table outside Estes Park and it landed…
-
Backyard Birds in Ohio: A Field Guide to the Species at Your Feeder
My aunt lives outside Dayton, and every time I visit her in April there’s a fight at her feeder that has nothing to do with…
-
Peacock Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
I saw a peacock fan its tail at a small zoo once, and the sound alone caught me off guard before the display even fully…
-
Swan Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A pair of Mute Swans showed up on the pond at my in-laws’ place every spring for years, and the thing that always struck me…
-
Heron Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A Great Blue Heron stood absolutely motionless at the edge of a pond near my house for what must have been twenty minutes straight, waiting…
-
Eagle Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
I saw my first wild Bald Eagle on a river trip in my twenties, and it’s genuinely one of those moments I still think about…
-
Woodpecker Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A Pileated Woodpecker went to work on a dead oak in my yard at 6 a.m. one morning, loud enough that it genuinely startled me…
-
Dove Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A pair of Mourning Doves showed up at my wedding reception, of all places, landing on a fence right as the ceremony wrapped up. My…
-
Sparrow Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A pair of House Sparrows built a nest in the gap above my porch light two summers running, and I’ll admit I never gave them…
-
Crow Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A crow left a bottle cap on my windowsill a few years back — not once, but repeatedly, over several weeks, always after I’d put…
-
Hawk Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A Red-tailed Hawk circled directly over the highway I was driving on for a solid minute once, riding a thermal without a single wingbeat, and…
-
Owl Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See or Hear One?
An owl called from the tree line behind my house almost every night for a week last October, and I’ll admit some part of me…
-
Hummingbird Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A hummingbird hovered inches from my face one morning while I was watering the porch flowers, held perfectly still for a few seconds, and then…
-
Robin Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
The first American Robin of the year always feels like a small event where I live — neighbors mention it, people post about it online,…
-
Blue Jay Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A blue jay dive-bombed my cat off the porch railing last summer, screeching the whole time, and it got me curious about what these birds…
-
Cardinal Meaning and Symbolism: What Does It Mean When You See One?
A cardinal showed up at my window feeder the same week my grandmother passed, and I’ll admit it stopped me in my tracks. Turns out…
-
Do Ducks Have Teeth?
My kid asked me this after watching a duck rip apart a chunk of bread at the park, and honestly it stumped me for a…
-
What Do You Call a Group of Turkeys?
A dozen wild turkeys crossed the road in front of my car last fall, in no hurry at all, and I sat there wondering what…
-
Are Kiwi Birds Endangered? The Threats Facing New Zealand’s Flightless Icon and How They Are Being Reversed
Kiwi birds are threatened but not, at the species level, currently listed as endangered. As of the most recent IUCN Red List assessments, four of…
-
Osprey: Mythology, Habitat, Diet, and More
“I think he’ll be to Rome / As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it / By sovereignty of nature.” William Shakespeare, Coriolanus Attribute…
-
Types of Sea Gulls in North America: A Field Guide to the Continent’s Gulls
Key Takeaways A Quick Word on “Seagulls” There is no single bird called a “seagull.” The word is a popular catch-all for the family of…
-
Brown Pelican: Symbolism, Habitat, Diet, and Conservation
The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a large, dark seabird of the American coastlines, instantly recognizable by its oversized bill, its enormous throat pouch, and…
-
Types of Flightless Birds: A Guide to Earth’s Grounded Birds
Key Takeaways A World of Birds That Walk, Run, and Swim Flightless birds are birds that have lost the ability to fly, having descended from…
-
Mourning Dove: North America’s Most Hunted Bird and Gentle Garden Visitor
Mourning Dove North America’s Most Hunted Bird and Gentle Garden Visitor Zenaida macroura ORDER: Columbiformes FAMILY: Columbidae Introduction A soft, mournful cooing drifts through the…
-
Killdeer: Nature’s Master of Deception
Killdeer Nature’s Master of Deception Charadrius vociferus ORDER: Charadriiformes FAMILY: Charadriidae Introduction I almost missed a flight once because a killdeer convinced me it was…
-
Different Types of Parrot Birds
A Complete Guide to the World’s Parrot Groups Parrots are one of the most recognizable and most threatened bird groups on Earth. There are roughly…
-
Guide to Species of Tit Birds
Types of Tit Birds: A Guide to the Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice The tits are a family of small, lively woodland birds, the Paridae, with…
-
Indigo Bunting: Mythology, Habitat, Diet, and More
Indigo Bunting A Comprehensive Guide to the Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea ORDER: Passeriformes FAMILY: Cardinalidae Here’s the strange part about Indigo Buntings: they aren’t actually…
-
The Plight of Endangered Birds
Introduction The Importance of Protecting Endangered Birds Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystems. They help control pests, pollinate plants, and spread seeds. Without them,…
-
Are Birds Warm Blooded or are Birds Cold Blooded?
Birds are fascinating creatures that can live in a variety of environments, from icy poles to hot deserts. One of the reasons they can survive…
-
Birds That Lay Blue Eggs: A Colorful Guide
Whether you are a seasoned birdwatcher, a passionate wildlife photographer, or simply someone who marvels at the wonders of nature, the charm and mystique of…
-
Difference Between Crows and Ravens
Welcome bird enthusiasts! If you’ve ever gazed skyward and wondered what are the differences between Crows and Ravens, you aren’t alone. These intriguing members of…
End of content
End of content